Miyagi JET writes of ruin, survival, rebuilding
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The below letter by current JET Waylon Bryson (Miyagi-ken, Sendai-shi) appeared recently in the Washington State University student publication where Bryson attended college.
The following letter was sent to WSU history instructor Roger Chan, who taught author Waylon Bryson, a philosophy graduate of 2007. Chan shared it with Noriko Kawamura, associate professor of history, who passed it on for WSU Today to share with the university community. Bryson is working in Sendai, Japan as an English teacher. This fall he will attend Vanderbilt Law in Nashville, Tenn.
I have lived in the city of Sendai, Japan for the past three and a half years, where I teach English for the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme. I was at my desk in the teachers’ room of Hachiken Junior High School when the earthquake struck.
Earthquakes are quite common in Japan and I, like the other staff members, paid little attention at first.
Then the room moved several feet. I had to physically hold onto my desk so that it wouldn’t move away from me. A control panel on the wall lit up like a Christmas tree and alarm bells started sounding. I could hear students screaming from the floors above as cracks snaked along the concrete walls and the building started groaning ominously.
CLICK HERE to read the full article on the WSU Today site.
JETAA USA Earthquake Relief Fund Update: Nominated Relief Funds
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JETAA USA is in the process of figuring out the best use of the donations it has collected and is continuing to collect for the JETAA USA Earthquake Relief Fund. Below is the latest from JETAA USA:
Nominated Relief Funds
CLAIR NY has offered their guidance in helping JETAA USA make a decision. CLAIR NY will not have a vote in the final outcome, but will simply be providing their thoughts on the effectiveness, feasibility, etc. on the nominations that the chapters have submitted. Additionally, Charity Navigator is a useful online resource which shows the effectiveness of US NGOs. We are working on finding a similar resource for Japanese NGOs.
There were suggestions from a few different chapters that the fund be donated in memory of any JETs lost in the disaster. Chapters will have a chance to vote on this idea, although it’s not reflected in the below list. [Emphasis added by JETwit.]
Below are the nominated causes/ organizations for the JETAA USA Earthquake Relief Fund:
Akai Hane (Red Feather Community Chest): Akai Hane, or the Red Feather Community Chest of Japan, is a non-governmental organization that focuses on welfare work and a member of United Way Worldwide. Central Community Chest of Japan and each Local Community Chests are raising fund to support victims, and to support volunteer groups which are responding to the disaster.
AmeriCares: AmeriCares is in direct contact with local officials, evacuation shelters and hospitals treating the injured and caring for evacuees, and based on early assessments and the anticipated need for long-term humanitarian aid, they’ve expanded set up an office in Tokyo to coordinate relief efforts. AmeriCares participated in the first inter-agency organizational meeting led by MOFA and included representatives of the Japanese Cabinet, UN agencies, and Japanese NGOs.
Association for Aid and Relief in Japan (AAR): Association for Aid and Relief, Japan (AAR JAPAN) mainly focus on the following activities: emergency assistance, assistance to persons with disabilities, and mine action. In response to the disaster in Japan, their Emergency Relief Team continues to visit welfare facilities for the aged and people with disabilities in the affected area to deliver food and fuel.
Community Project (Cause): With JET being an education- focused program, we’d like to identify a fund or organization focused on long-term rebuilding of schools in the affected areas (e.g. replenishing libraries, rebuilding institutions, installing student computers, providing teaching materials, playground equipment, etc). This also falls in line with JET’s mission of grassroots community involvement.
CRASH Japan: Christian Relief, Assistance, Support and Hope (CRASH) is a network supporting Christians to do relief work in Japan and around the world. CRASH equips and prepares churches and missions to be there to help their communities when disasters strike and coordinates Christian volunteers to work with local ministries in the event of a disaster.
Direct Donation: Following an immediate donation to a disaster relief organization for the pressing needs, we would like the Fund continue to be maintained by JETAANY. We’d like the collection of donations to continue and those funds to go toward rebuilding the English program at the schools where the JET’s who were lost in this disaster worked.
Fukushima / Iwate / Miyagi Prefecture Direct Funds: Fukushima, Iwate and Miyagi (separate accounts for donating to relief or reconstruction) have established direct donation accounts.
Habitat for Humanity: Habitat for Humanity International currently has an assessment team in Japan, and together with Habitat for Humanity Japan, are liaising with government authorities and other organizations on how to best support the relief effort. In the short-term, Habitat for Humanity expects its response to include mobilizing volunteers in Japan to work with other organizations in the relief operation, like beginning the clean-up process, and a longer-term plan will then be plotted, when the full extent of the damage is known and the best course of action identified.
Japan Platform: Japan Platform (JPF) is an international emergency humanitarian aid organization which offers more effective and prompter emergency aid, in response to the world situation, focusing the issues of refugees and natural disaster. JPF conducts such aid with a tripartite cooperation system where NGOs, business community, and government of Japan work in close cooperation, based on equal partnership, making the most of the respective sectors’ characteristics and resources.
Japan Red Cross: The Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) is scaling up its response to meet the needs of the affected population as well as assessing the situation at both national headquarters and branch level in the affected prefectures, to plan for the next phases of the humanitarian operation.
The Boston Foundation (via the Japan America Society of Boston): This fund was established last week at The Boston Foundation with an initial leadership grant of $100,000 from Atsuko and Lawrence Fish, who have also pledged to cover all administrative costs of the fund. Contributions to this fund are for immediate relief – not for long-term infrastructure recovery, which is seen as the responsibility of the government of Japan.
JEN: Japanese Emergency NGOs was founded as a coalition of relief workers with experience in overseas disasters. More than a decade ago, JEN became an independent NGO implementing disaster relief work. JEN is coordinating with local government and at the grassroots level to deliver blankets and food in the short term, and it has two teams in the affected areas assessing its long-term response.
Mercy Corps: Mercy Corps is working to help survivors of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami in cooperation with our longstanding partner, Peace Winds. Peace Winds continues to deliver emergency supplies — including large shelters, tents, blankets, instant rice and fresh produce — to families evacuated from homes in the tsunami-devastated city of Kesennuma. Mercy Corps has deployed our emergency team leader to help Peace Winds coordinate its lifesaving response.
Monty Dickson Fund: A to be established fund that will assist efforts to find Monty and to assist his family in their ongoing efforts to find Monty, a current JET participant who was teaching in Rikuzentakata on the day of the earthquake and tsunami – Rikuzentakata was destroyed by the tsunami. Monty called friends from the town cultural hall after the earthquake, but has not been heard from since.
Nippon Foundation: The Nippon Foundation has extensive experience working with local partners to provide support after disasters such as the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995, and more recently the Mid Niigata Earthquake and Noto Peninsula Earthquake. The Nippon Foundation/CANPAN Northeastern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund aims to provide both immediate aid as well as medium to long-term support to ensure a full recovery of the affected areas, in an accountable and timely manner.
Orphanages in Japan: Many children may have become parentless due to the natural disaster. We should identify a fund or organization in Japan that supports orphans and orphanages long-term.
Oxfam Japan: Oxfam Japan will be working with two partners in Japan on providing support to those on the margins of society who might otherwise have difficulty accessing emergency relief. One group is assisting mothers and babies and the other is providing information to non-Japanese speakers living in Japan.
Peace Winds America: Peace Winds America is the US chapter of Peace Winds Japan, a Japanese NGO, and a partner of Mercy Corps, focusing their efforts on strengthening disaster management readiness in case of disasters in Asia. They are currently on the ground in Japan, and most recently are arranging a convoy of 10 trucks of supplies to Iwate and Miyagi, providing food, water, gas, blankets, clothing to at least 5 different affected communities (as of March 22).
Peace Winds Japan: Peace Winds Japan is one of the largest Japanese organizations providing humanitarian relief such as food, clothing, fuel and medical supplies to the affected areas. It is also currently listed on Global Giving’s website as one of 7 ongoing projects in Japan in need of assistance.
Rehabilitation: Funds should go to an as yet unidentified group in Japan that provides long-term rehabilitation services for the disabled.
Riverside Sendai Relief Fund: Riverside and Sendai have been friends since 1951 and sister cities since 1957 in what is one of the oldest continuous sister city relationships in the United States.
Save the Children: Save the Children is the world’s leading independent organization for children, working in more than 120 countries. In Japan they have a 3 year plan strategy—based on initial assessments—to first help provide essential relief items and launch child protection activities, and then help restore children’s sense of security and normalcy and advocate for their inclusion in emergency preparedness planning.
Second Harvest: Second Harvest Japan distributes food to soup kitchens, orphanages, the elderly, emergency shelters, single mothers, the homeless, migrant workers, and many others.
UNICEF Japan: Japan Committee for UNICEF has been making a concerted effort to help affected children and their families by mobilizing its well-established network of partners, including the private sector, schools, religious groups and volunteers. The Committee is mobilizing assistance in the areas of maternal and child health, education and psychosocial support.
U.S. Japan Council: The U.S.-Japan Council Earthquake Relief Fund was established to collect donations that directly support immediate relief and the long-term rebuilding in Japan. 100% of all donations will go to directly to NGOs/NPOs in Japan. On March 22, USJC announced that the first disbursement will go to two Japanese NGO platforms: The Japan Platform (JPF) and the Center for Public Resource Development (CPRD).
Mainichi Daily News: JET program English teachers in Miyagi say they won’t leave
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An article from The Mainichi Daily News about the 1/3 of the 70 Miyagi Prefecture JETs who have chosen to stay in Miyagi and continue working for their communities.
The article quotes the following JETs:
- Katherine Sheu, 25, from Los Angeles, who has taught English at five elementary and junior high schools in Ishinomaki for the past three years.
- Edward Clemons, 25, from Chicago,is in his second year of teaching conversational classes for adults and school students in Kesennuma, another Miyagi city severely damaged by the disaster.
- Daniel Villeneuve (Canada), a Miyagi prefectural advisor for the assistant language teachers.
Full article here:
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/features/news/20110329p2g00m0fe073000c.html
AJET: Guide to Organising Food and Supply Drives
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AJET recently put up a good Facebook post on a “Guide to Organising Food and Supply Drives.”
Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE/USA) Update: 03.28.11
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The Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE/USA) has been an excellent source of updates via the earthquake section of its website as well as its Facebook page. The kind of info you’re likely not getting from CNN or network news. Notably, JET alum James Gannon (Ehime-ken, 1992-94) is the Director of JCIE/USA’s New York office. Here’s the latest update:
Weekend News – http://www.jcie.org/earthquakeupdate.html
- JEN and others report that more relief supplies are reaching those in need, while a recent AMDA survey shows a rise in suspected Influenza cases.
- AAR Japan searched for a senior daycare center by foot in Yamamoto-cho (Miyagi Pref). Only a sign was left and word finally reache…d them that they had lost 3 of their staff members.
Also: JCIE has updated its Timeline through March 25 (http://www.jcie.org/earthquakeupdate.html). Relief supplies, especially medical, are still in high demand two weeks after the ‘Quake & Tsunami. However, NGO’s are also able to reach more and more people in need.
Click here for some images from Recovery & Relief efforts.
Fukushima perspectives by a Fukushima JET alum
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Thanks to JETAA Bluegrass Subchapter rep Roy Harrison for sharing the link to the excellent article by Fukushima JET alum and journalist Graham Shelby:
“JET Alum Graham Shelby put together a piece for the Louisville Courier-Journal about the experience of watching what’s happening in Fukushima from a distance that’s much greater geographically than it is emotionally.”
“Please give it a read. You’ll likely find it echoes the feelings you’ve been having for the past two weeks.”
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011303270046
Via a post to the Miyagi JET Reunion Facebook group by William Henning:
“This [map of Miyagi] ought to give you some idea of how your area fared. Scroll down for .pfds of maps showing approx. how far the water reached along the Miyagi coast.”
- See map 10 for Natori, Iwanuma, Sendai, Tagajo, Shiogama.
- See map 9 for Higashi Matsushima and Ishinomaki.
- See map 8 for Kitakami (Kahoku), Ogatsu, and Onagawa
- See map 7 for Shizugawa and Utatsu.
Ibaraki Update: Socks
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From a blog by Jason Kelly (not a JET). FYI, Ibaraki Prefecture was also hit hard by the earthquake but has not gotten as much attention as the harder hit areas of Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima.
Into Ibaraki
We received an emergency request for socks from North Ibaraki City, hit hard by the earthquake and tsunami, and located only 73 km (45 mi) south of the stricken Fukushima nuclear power plants. We faced two questions: Was it safe to travel closer to the radiation, and could we justify using precious gasoline for such a long trip?
On the first question, we checked radiation levels for the area and found them to be eight times higher than near our base in Sano —
CLICK HERE to read the rest of this post.
Here’s an article from the Salvation Army’s blog about an ALT named Lis Bennett (not a JET) who was teaching at a school 25 miles from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant when the earthquake struck. She was evacuated from the area and shares some of her experience in the article.
Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE/USA) Update: 03.23.11
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The Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE/USA) has been an excellent source of updates via the earthquake section of its website as well as its Facebook page. The kind of info you’re likely not getting from CNN or network news. Notably, JET alum James Gannon (Ehime-ken, 1992-94) is the Director of JCIE/USA’s New York office. Here’s the latest update:
March 23 Excerpts (http://www.jcie.org/earthquakeupdate.html):
* AARJ responds to a Sendai welfare organization assisting the elderly, which had run out of resources.
* Peace Winds Japan distributed kerosene & stoves in Minamisanriku-cho for those without heat.
* All medical facilities in Rikuzentakada were destroyed in the earthquake; …NICCO’s team is providing mobile medical services in Otomo-cho.
JapanGanbare: Messages of encouragement and support through manga art!
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A thoughtful approach to supporting Japan through original and creative images by manga fans:
Send a message of encouragement and support through your own manga art!
漫画を使って日本を応援しましょう！
Japanese fundraising on the streets of NYC
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Ganbare Japan!
Japanese volunteers ask for donations on behalf of the Lions Club in front of Grand Central Station, New York City. Polite yet persistent. Volunteers have been active in this way throughout the city for the last week.
What’s going on in your neck of the woods?
Photo by Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, 1992-94)
Taylor Anderson’s high school establishes fund in her honor
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St. Catherine’s High School in Richmond, VA has set up a fund in honor of Ishinomaki JET Taylor Anderson who attended St. Catherine’, according to an article in the The Richmond Times-Dispatch.
The below is from the fund website (www.st.catherines.org/tayloranderson):
“The St. Catherine’s community is mourning the loss of Taylor Lane Anderson ’04. The Anderson family confirmed that their daughter’s body was found on March 21 in Japan. Our School family is devastated by this discovery.
Taylor was a four-year day student who quickly became involved in school activities after she arrived in the ninth grade. She was Co-Editor of the Atelier and a member of Model UN. Taylor touched many hearts while at St. Catherine’s, taking her unique gifts and talents to the country of Japan. As part of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, Taylor spent the past two years teaching English to kindergarten, lower school and junior high school students in the coastal city of Ishinomaki. She was last seen after the March 11 earthquake, but before the tsunami devastated the coast of Japan.
St. Catherine’s is so proud of Taylor for living the School’s motto, “What we keep we lose; only what we give remains our own.” She exemplified what it means to be a St. Catherine’s alumna and she will long live as a role model for our community. Taylor touched the hearts and lives of so many people at St. Catherine’s. Circumstances like these, while unimaginably sad, remind us of the value and the power of faith, family and friendship.
The School has established the Taylor Anderson ’04 Memorial Gift Fund. All money raised will be given in Taylor’s memory to benefit the relief efforts in Japan, the country she loved so dearly. St. Catherine’s will work with the Anderson family to direct the funds in the way that best honors Taylor’s legacy. Our hope is to help with the rebuilding of the schools in the region where Taylor taught.
Please leave your thoughts, memories and condolences below and they will be shared with the Anderson family.”
NHK TV today showed a video (in Japanese) of Taylor Anderson’s father Andy Anderson visiting Ishinomaki and laying flowers where Taylor’s body was found. It’s very moving to hear her father say, “Taylor loved Ishinomaki, and we do too.” And as a JET it’s hard to look at the background scenery in the video and not feel that sense of familiarity that this could be any town in Japan.
Sayonara! 6 CLAIR-NY staff set to return to Japan
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It happens every year, but it’s always sad to say goodbye to the CLAIR-NY (aka Japan Local Government Center) staff members who finish their terms and return to Japan at the end of March. Those departing this march include (left to right):
- Yuko Nishida (Izumo City government, Shimane Prefecture)
- Shinya Abe (Tokyo, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)
- Taichi Hanzawa (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture government), who previously served as the JETAA USA Liaison
- Chizuko Kawamura (Hiroshima City government), who served as JETAA Canada Liaison this year and JETAA USA Liaison the previous year
- Kazuaki Nakajima (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department) (not pictured)
- Akiko Tanabe (Tottori Prefecture government) (not pictured)
Minasan arigatou gozaimashita. O-tsukare sama deshita. Nihon ni kaete, ganbatte kudasai!
Note on CLAIR-NY/JLGC: The staff of the JLGC is comprised of local government workers from various cities and prefectures along with some central government workers, all of whom are selected to participate in a 3 year program. The first year they spend working and learning together in Tokyo. The latter 2 years they spend in one of a number of CLAIR offices in various countries.
